Publications
- Report2012NCF Annual Report 2012Download
PDF, 7.32 MB
- Popular Article2012The fading of an invisible mapThe Hindu, February 11th, Magazine SectionDownload
PDF, 968 KB
- Popular Article2012Friendly fungiThe Hindu in School, 8 August
Link: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/friendly-fungi/article3739757.ece
- Popular Article2012Winter visitors from far awayThe Hindu in School, 16 October
Link: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/winter-visitors-from-far-away/article4000658.ece
- Popular Article2012The singing farmers of the forestThe Hindu in School, 21 November
Link: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/the-singing-farmers-of-the-forest/article4117519.ece
- Popular Article2012The incredible adventures of a seedThe Hindu in School, 28 November
Link: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/the-incredible-adventures-of-a-seed/article4141700.ece
- Popular Article2012The talking treeThe Hindu in School, 5 December
Link: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/the-talking-tree/article4165259.ece
- Poster2011Vultures in Perilsupported by Whitley Fund For NatureDownload
PDF, 17.9 MB
Long-billed Vultures, Red-headed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Diclofenac, Visceral Gout
- Popular Article2011Habitat is the key.Down To Earth. October 1-15. Page 31.Download
PDF, 1.16 MB
Jeganathan, P. (2011). Habitat is the key. Down To Earth. October 1-15. Page 31.
- Popular Article2011A real race on an imaginary course?Down To Earth, 15 October 2011
- Journal Article2011Patterns of spatiotemporal change in large mammal distribution and abundance in the southern Western Ghats, IndiaBiological Conservation 144: 1567-1576Download
PDF, 661 KB
Large mammals face high risks of anthropogenic extinction owing to their larger body mass and associated life history traits. Recent worldwide mammal declines have highlighted the conservation importance of effective assessments of trends in distribution and abundance of species. Yet reliable data depicting the nature and extent of changes in population parameters is sparse, primarily due to logistical problems in covering large areas and difficulties in obtaining reliable information at large spatial scales, particularly over time. We used key informant surveys to generate detection histories for 18 species of large mammals (body mass > 2 kg) at two points in time (present and 30 years ago) in the Southern subregion of the Western Ghats global biodiversity hotspot. Multiple-season occupancy models were used to assess temporal trends in occupancy, detectability and vital rates of extinction and colonization for each species. Our results show significant declines in distribution for large carnivores, the Asian elephant and endemic ungulates and primates. There is a significant decline in detectability for 16 species, which suggests a decline in their abundance. These patterns of change in distribution and abundance repeat in our assessments of spatial variation in occupancy dynamics between the three contiguous forest complexes and two human-dominated landscapes into which the southern Western Ghats has been fragmented. Extinction rates are highest in the human-dominated landscapes. Declines in abundance for several species suggest the presence of extinction debts, which may soon be repaid with imminent range contractions and subsequent species extinctions unless immediate remedial conservation measures are taken. Detection/non-detection surveys of key informants used in an occupancy modeling framework provide potential for rapid conservation status assessments of multiple species across large spatial scales over time.
- Popular Article2011Staying legal, staying reasonableDown To Earth, 15 November 2011
Full article accessible here
- Report2011Wildlife in the Havukal – Warwick estates, Nilgiris: a field survey and inventory report.Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore.
Jeganathan, P. & Murali, R. (2011). Wildlife in the Havukal – Warwick estates, Nilgiris: a field survey and inventory report. Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore.
- Report2011Framing ecologically sound policy on linear intrusions affecting wildlife habitats: Background paper for the National Board for Wildlife, Ministry of Environment and Forest, India.
PDF available at iMinistry of Environment and Forest, India, website. Click here to download.
- Poster2011Ecosystem Processessupported by Whitley Fund For NatureDownload
PDF, 24 MB
Rainforests, Flycatchers, Bats, Leopards, Mouse Deer, King Cobra, Owl, Butterflies, Hornbills, Macaques, Fruit Bats, Civets, Rodents, Beetles, Termites, Earthworms, Bacteria, Fungi
- Report2011People and predators: Leopard diet and interactions with people in a tea plantation dominated landscape in the Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats.NCF Technical Report #18, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore.Download
PDF, 3.77 MB
Leopards use a wide range of habitats from natural forests to human-dominated landscapes and conflicts sometimes arise from loss of livestock or attacks on people in interface areas. In a fragmented rainforest and plantation landscape in southern India, we examined diet of large carnivores (particularly leopards) using scat analysis with DNA-based identification of predator species, and relative abundance of prey species in different land-uses using transect surveys. Spatio-temporal patterns in conflict and attitudes of local people were analysed from conflict records with the Forest Department and questionnaire surveys in 28 plantation colonies and eight tribal settlements. Large carnivores predominantly (98.1%) consumed wild prey species and domestic prey species contributed <2% to overall prey biomass. Similarly, for leopards four wild prey species (Indian muntjac, Indian spotted chevrotain, sambar, and Indian porcupine) contributed 95.1% of prey biomass, with the rest being minor wild prey species (no livestock in identified scats). In the landscape, wild prey species persisted but varied in relative abundance by land-use type, with forest fragments supporting higher abundances of most species. ... In a 3-year period (2008 – 2010), 32 head of livestock (cow, buffalo, and goat) were reported by respondents as lost to carnivore depredation (economic loss averaging INR 9732 or ~USD 216 per incident). Over the same period, there were eight attacks on people, resulting in three fatalities (all children). Attitudes towards leopards were not affected by incidence of livestock depredation, but related instead to occurrence of attacks on people in the colony. Livestock depredation at a colony was significantly and positively related to livestock numbers, and interactively with distance from protected area (positive) and number of people (negative). To minimise conflicts, we suggest adoption of a combination of measures including better herding, improved livestock corrals, safety precautions for adults and children at night in estates, and proper waste management, besides protection of habitat remnants that sustain wild prey populations. These will help safeguard human life and reduce economic losses, thereby mitigating conflict and promoting human – leopard coexistence in such landscapes.
- Popular Article2011வளங்குன்றா விவசாயமும் பல்லுயிர்ப் பாதுகாப்பும் (Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation)பூவுலகு. ஜூலை -ஆகஸ்ட் 2011 பக்கங்கள் 47-49/ Poovulagu. Jul-Aug, Pp 47-49.
Available here:
வளங்குன்றா விவசாயமும் பல்லுயிர்ப் பாதுகாப்பும்.பூவுலகு. ஜூலை -ஆகஸ்ட் 2011 பக்கங்கள் 47-49. [Jeganathan, P. (2011). Valangundra Vivasayamum Pallyuir Pathugappum. Poovulagu. Jul-Aug, Pp 47-49.(Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation)]
- Popular Article2011வேழங்களை வாழவைக்க. (To save our Asiatic Elephants)துளிர். அக்டோபர் 2011. பக்கங்கள் 7-10. Thulir. Science monthly magazine for Kids. Pp 7-10.
Available here:
வேழங்களை வாழவைக்க. துளிர். அக்டோபர் 2011. பக்கங்கள் 7-10. [ Jeganathan, P. (2011).Vezangalai Vazavaikka. Thulir. Science monthly magazine for Kids. Pp 7-10.(To save our Asiatic Elephants) ]
- Poster2011Endemic Mammals of The Nilgirissupported by Whitley Fund for NatureDownload
PDF, 25.5 MB
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Brown Palm Civet, Malabar Spiny Doormouse, Brown Mongoose Lion, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr, Stripe-necked Mongoose
- Poster2011Endemic birds of the Western Ghatssupported by Whitley Fund for NatureDownload
PDF, 18.5 MB
Western Ghats, Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Rufous Babbler, White-bellied Shortwing, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Yellow-throated Bulbul, White-cheeked Barbed, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher, Malabar Grey Hornbill
